Mr Oliver's Diary

by Ruskin Bond

A gun-toting, violin-playing Headmaster. A homicidal barber. A hungry leopard and about a hundred frogs on the loose. Boys with a talent for pranks and jokes. Ruskin Bond???s fresh new school stories are a non-stop laugh riot. Mr Oliver, a history teacher, arrives in Simla with a train-load of hungry boys to start a new term at the Prep School. As he records the antics of the amazing characters there, and all that they get up to, we quickly realize that there is never a dull moment. A fire, a missing Headmaster, runaway students make sure not a day goes by when Mr Oliver has nothing to report in his diary. He writes about the eccentric teachers, the girls??? school next door and the lovely Anjali Ramola, whom he secretly admires. Laugh-out-loud funny, with a core of old-world charm that is trademark Bond, Mr Oliver???s Diary has stories and characters that have never appeared anywhere before. With his runaway wig, pet shrew and endearing dry wit, Mr Oliver is sure to become as well-loved as those other vintage Ruskin Bond characters, Uncle Ken and Rusty About The Author: Ruskin Bond???s first novel, The Room on the Roof, written when he was seventeen, won the John Llewellyn Rhys Memorial Prize in 1957. Since then he has written several novellas (including Vagrants in the Valley, A Flight of Pigeons and Delhi Is Not Far), essays, poems and children???s books, many of which have been published by Penguin India. He has also written over 500 short stories and articles that have appeared in a number of magazines and anthologies. He received the Sahitya Akademi Award in 1993 and the Padma Shri in 1999

Genres: Fiction, Childrens

144 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 2010

About the author

Ruskin Bond is an Indian author of British descent. He is considered to be an icon among Indian writers and children's authors and a top novelist. He wrote his first novel, The Room on the Roof, when he was seventeen which won John Llewellyn Rhys Memorial Prize in 1957. Since then he has written several novellas, over 500 short stories, as well as various essays and poems, all of which have established him as one of the best-loved and most admired chroniclers of contemporary India. In 1992 he received the Sahitya Akademi award for English writing, for his short stories collection, "Our Trees Still Grow in Dehra", by the Sahitya Akademi, India's National Academy of Letters in India. He was awarded the Padma Shri in 1999 for contributions to children's literature. He now lives with his adopted family in Landour near Mussoorie.

Reviews

[Priya Prasad · Rating 4 out of 5]

A very wholesome book! Feels like a fresh breath of air, it was extremely easy to digest!

[Saujanya · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book undoubtedly shows Ruskin Bond at his best. The story makes us smile innumerable times as we go on a roller coaster ride with Mr. Oliver and his students.
If you are feeling low and you are looking for something light to read, then this is a book you need to grab.
The use of imagery, quotes and expressions to deliver the so common tale of a boarding school is simply amazing. You could relate to it instantly.

This is definitely a classic, a must for all Bond lovers.

[Manvi Aggarwal · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book was more like a break from the heavy studying I was doing for my exams. Its a light hearted book and I completed it in 1 and a half hour straight. Its suitable for children under 12 years or so. I kind of liked it as a Ruskin Bond original, but I wouldn't recommend it, lest they should think my clock is ticking backwards!

[Harshit Gupta · Rating 3 out of 5]

Simple, sweet, a different piece from Ruskin Bond that is a little different from his most books.

[Saritha · Rating 4 out of 5]

Simple love the way the story is said. light and easy reading.

[Goblin Reaper · Rating 4 out of 5]

“Stepped out of my front door into bright sunshine and received a snowball full in the face.”

Another one of the hilarious works of Ruskin Bond, Mr.Oliver's Diary, has it all (as per its description) — a gun-toting, violin-playing headmaster, a homicidal barber, a hungry leopard, about a hundred frogs on the loose, and pranking schoolboys. Mr.Oliver is a history teacher at a boarding school in Simla. This short story starts with Mr.Oliver being in charge of a hundred schoolboys on the train journey from Kalka to Simla; follows his life as a teacher to those mischievous boys.
This book is full of humorous anecdotes experienced by Mr. Oliver (I am guilty of being amused by his miseries). It is written in Mr.Oliver's perspective in the form of a diary thus defining the title of the book. Even though the book is categorized for kids, it offers a ton of entertainment to adults too. Perfect for a light read, Ruskin Bond has (as always) used all the tricks to make Christopher Oliver, our history teacher, a funny and loveable character. It becomes quite clear as you read Bond's stories, that he has perfected the art of writing children's tales. The comedy is light yet bring out heartfelt laughter. Bond's writing is simple and heartwarming; along with the illustrations portrayed in it, the book is decidedly funny. Since this book was included in my school curriculum when I was a kid, nostalgic feelings always dawn upon me whenever I read it. The anecdotes effortlessly delivered the anecdotes are very relatable and pleasant.
This is a book I definitely recommend for children under the age is 12 years or so. If you're looking for a light read as a break from your heavy studies or work stress, this book should be added to your list. It's a guarantee that it'll make you smile if you're in low spirits.

[Soumya K S · Rating 4 out of 5]

"Mr Oliver's Diary" is a charming book by Ruskin Bond, published in 2010. The story follows Mr Oliver, an English teacher who teaches in a small town in northern India. The book is written in the form of a diary, which Mr Oliver uses to document his experiences, observations, and thoughts. The book takes the readers through a year in Mr Oliver's life, and each entry provides a glimpse into his world and those who surround him. The characters are expertly portrayed, from the students who attend his classes to the people he meets in the town. The author's writing style is simple yet evocative, and the language used creates vivid images in the reader's mind. The book highlights several themes, including the beauty of a slower pace of life, the value of community and friendship, and the importance of embracing cultural diversity. Mr Oliver's diary entries offer insight into India's people and its culture, making it an excellent read for individuals interested in learning more about the country. Overall, "Mr Oliver's Diary" is a delightful and thought-provoking read that can entertain a wide range of age groups. Ruskin Bond's ability to capture the essence of small-town India makes this book a must-read for anyone interested in the country's culture and history.

[Rashmi Jagadish · Rating 5 out of 5]

Love Ruskin Bond's book. Reminds me so much of my childhood growing up in India with my cousins and friends in boarding school. The language and tone it's written in is so representative of Indians.
There are also a few laugh out loud moments and it always bring a smile and a calm while and after we finish reading this!

[Maanya Gupta · Rating 4 out of 5]

My favourite and according to me the funniest part were of Anjali ramola and her bestie. The leopard,head master, thousands of frogs were exciting moments. The boys of school were definitely the best

[Adrija Banerjee · Rating 4 out of 5]

An amazing book from my favourite author. I don't even know how to describe this book. Perhaps, this is because Ruskin Bond's writing cannot be described in words. One needs to read it in order to emotionally connect with it. Such a wonderfully funny and feel good book. Loved it.

[Lyn · Rating 5 out of 5]

Hilarious book to read aloud to middle school students. It's in diary form and follows a year in the life of a schoolteacher at a prep school in India. Clever and very funny; a wonderful caste of quirky characters.

[Shiv ☆ · Rating 3 out of 5]

I rediscovered the art of Ruskin Bond. I was unable to control my laughter and I got weird looks from Math sir for smiling like an idiot LOL. I would've definitely loved it more as a child. Still, I give it 3.75 stars.

If it was not for reading week, I would never have read this one..

[Isha Fathima · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book was quite nice it was a change o feel something from a teacher's🧑‍🏫 point of view 🪟 and there is so much to laugh 🤡and I kinda got angry with Anjali's friend because she wanted to be with mr oliver but everything turned out to be good 😊 honestly I didn't expect it to be nice but ya it breaked through my expectations

[Shiven Jain · Rating 5 out of 5]

I laughed so much that my stomach hurt and still such a simple and subtle topic! It was so good that it barely took me an hour to finish!

[Bablu Nonia · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wish it could have been longer

[Resham Sheth · Rating 4 out of 5]

Simple, sweet as the author himself

[Nischal · Rating 5 out of 5]

Had my best time reading this during my schooling 😊😊😊

[Shreyas · Rating 5 out of 5]

amazing book with comedy and interesting stories.

[Jo March · Rating 5 out of 5]

End of the day reading should make you feel good and optimistic. This is what the book does. Loved it!

[Anushka · Rating 5 out of 5]

The book is soo good! This is a quick read which will make you laugh and feel wholesome. I absolutely recommend this if you wanna get out of a book slump and you are really impatient with books.

[Raxesh · Rating 5 out of 5]

Another gem from Mr Bond! Thoroughly enjoyable read...

[Snigda Reddy · Rating 5 out of 5]

Very humorous and grt book to read . Writing humorous book is very hard and i can say Ruskin Bond has done a grt job. The storyline is also very good!!

[Shivani Rajanala · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book is the best Ruskin Bond book I have ever read! It is so funny. It gives a clear and vivid perspective of the protagonist and the hilarious problems faced by him as a Head teacher in school. While reading the book, I was so fascinated at the incidents that took place at his school (the main reason being that hilarious and fun events are non-existent in my school😑). It was like a totally different world! Mr. Oliver’s character is so interesting and lovable (the strict but caring teacher). This book is written in a crisp and concise manner. Suitable for all ages😁.

[Rangoli Jain · Rating 5 out of 5]

The book transported me back to my hostel/boarding days. The tuck shop, teacher-student relationship, PT sessions, sick room, haircut days… aah! the list goes on and on.

Enjoyed every bit of it amidst the mundanity of adulthood. Brought back childhood memories.

[Cynthia Ranjeeta · Rating 5 out of 5]

Oh. My. God.

One of my Ruskin Bond's best. Actually, it's difficult to choose a best from among his vast repertoire of stories, but this one scores big because of the laughs it brings with every line. I could read this every day and still laugh my lungs out. Especially great for a bedtime read, with guaranteed sound sleep.

[Prashant · Rating 5 out of 5]

A hilarious trip to shimla's prep school filled with eccentric characters, hilarious incidents, fun filled moments. Mr Oliver's diary is a fun filled read. Immensely delightful with rib tickling humor.

[Jion Mallick · Rating 4 out of 5]

Good book.

[Saurabh Kumar · Rating 5 out of 5]

A delightful little book. Simple, charming and funny, I do wish there were more illustrations though.

[Subu · Rating 4 out of 5]

read this at the request of my niece...was one of her school textbooks for sixth standard...never knew ruskin bond was so dahl-esque...really simple and sweet

[Richa · Rating 5 out of 5]

Brilliant book! Small life instances have its own appeal! Must read!!